Purpose: :
Inflammation is now understood to play a significant role inthe aetiology of AMD. One possible model for the pathogenesisof AMD is abnormal regulation of the alternative complementpathway due to variation in the complement factor H (CFH) gene.This alternative complement pathway may be triggered by an infectiousagent such as C. pneumonia. We have•investigated a possibleinteraction between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and CFH genotypein the pathogenesis of AMD.•investigated a possible interactionbetween Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and HTRA1 genotype inthe progression of AMD.MethodA cohort of plasma samples from200 AMD patients and 100 controls from the UK were tested forC.pneumoniae IgG antibodies in the laboratory, using a micro-immunofluorescentassay, to establish previous C.pneumoniae infection. These assayswere carried out blind to complement factor H and HTRA1 genotypewhich were then analysed alongside the assay results to establishany possible association.

Results: :
To date this study found no evidence of an association betweenChlamydia pneumoniae infection and AMD, irrespective of CFHgenotype.ConclusionC. pnumoniae does not appear to act as abiological trigger in AMD in our UK cohort, although other bacterialagents may play a role.